Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several other officials, were found dead on Monday after their helicopter crashed in a foggy, mountainous region in the northwest of the country. State media reported the fatalities, which have since been confirmed by CNN through Iranian news outlets. The crash resulted in the deaths of nine individuals in total.
Initially, reports suggested the helicopter carrying Raisi had a hard landing during a visit to a northern region, leaving his condition unknown. However, subsequent confirmations verified that he did not survive the crash. This incident comes at a highly sensitive time in the Middle East, with ongoing conflict in Gaza contributing to regional instability.
According to local media reports, President Ebrahim Raisi was en route to the city of Tabriz in northwest Iran after a visit to the border with Azerbaijan, where he inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi and Khodaafarin dams. However, the journey ended in tragedy as Raisi’s helicopter crashed in a mountainous and wooded area, roughly 50 kilometers north of Tabriz.
Heavy fog has significantly impeded search and rescue efforts. A reporter from the Fars news agency noted that visibility in the area is down to only about five meters, making the search extremely challenging. Ahmad Alirezabeigi, the Iranian MP for Tabriz, informed reporters in Tehran that rescue workers have yet to locate the downed helicopter carrying President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. He added that the other two helicopters in the convoy landed safely, but several officials remain unaccounted for on the missing aircraft.
State television footage shows worshippers in the holy city of Mashhad praying for the president’s health, highlighting the national concern and hope for a positive outcome.
The crash site, characterized by its difficult terrain and poor visibility, poses a significant challenge to rescuers as they continue their efforts to locate and assist any survivors.
